The Food and Drug Administration said a proposed thyroid cancer drug being developed by AstraZeneca PLC was associated with "substantial toxicity."
The name of the cancer drug is Vandetanib.

Why is this new cancer drug dangerous? What were the research results?
Are there still chances for Astrazeneca's Vandetanib to be in the market in the future?

Hudson

11-30-2010 03:46 PM

Astrazeneca's Vandetanib was linked to serious side effects in 31 percent of patients in a study. A panel of outside advisers to the FDA will review the findings Dec. 2 at the agency’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The agency highlighted that "a substantial number of patients receiving vandetanib required a dose reduction and/or interruption" during a critical trial of the therapy. Close to a third of the patients taking the drug experienced significant side effects.

Any drug approval is complicated. Recent changes in legislation have streamlined the approval process. Critics contend that these changes have compromised public safety, resulting in the need to recall several products from the market.

Since Vandetanib was linked to toxicity, it's going to be hard for Astrazeneca to get the approval any time soon.